Review: Because of Low by Abbi Glines

In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story…Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage York. Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

In book one we met Sadie, Jax, Marcus and Amanda. We see Marcus as this super sweet guy and great friend to Sadie. Some things happen and he tells Sadie he wants to BE WITH HER but she falls for Jax Stone. Through all of that Marcus was still there for Sadie as an awesome friend. Now in Book #2 we get to see Marcus's happiness and the road he had to take to get there.

Willow (Low) is from the wrong side of the tracks. She was born from a mother who never really loved her and the affair that mother had with a married man. The married man never really acknowledges Low. Her sister Tawny is a selfish nightmare and treats Low horrible.

Marcus has been called back home in order to help his mother and sister deal with a crisis in the family. Namely that being his father having an affair with a younger woman. Marcus has to find a place to live fast and becomes roommates with Cage. Preston and Marcus grew up together and Preston and Cage are in the same college and on the baseball team together. Low and Cage are best friends and Cage declares he will marry Low someday. Low understands that Cage is possessive of her and does not really give it much thought.

Low meets Marcus and they are drawn to one another. Marcus has to take it slow. Marcus can tell that Low is more innocent then the girls he ends up with. Marcus finally has a chance with Low and his family drama becomes increasingly difficult to deal with. Low is having family issues also but she is trying to deal with them and keep them from affecting Marcus. Little do they know that their family problems are intertwined from the start.

Cage and Marcus try to work through their jealousy issues over Low. Marcus and Low's relationship takes a turn for the worst when the intertwining family secrets and crisis's are revealed.

Now Marcus will need to see past his rage to understand that Low was not to blame for the problems his family was facing. Once Marcus sees the truth he must then convince Low to trust him, forgive him, and give the relationship another go.

In book #1 I had some major issues with the verbiage and editing. The verbiage is fine in this book and the editing/proofing was improved. There were still some editing problems but I saw improvement so I hope that will continue through to the other books from this author.

I'm Kami and I live in South Florida with my husband and lots of crazy pets. I love reading, music, movies and beading. I love books that involve the supernatural, but if the concept piques my interest, then no genre is completely off the grid. My reviews are always honest...sometimes brutally so...but I am always fair. It takes a lot for me to truly hate a book and even more to love it, so if I give you the “thumbs up,” you know its worth reading. In my spare time I make beaded jewelry that can be purchased on Etsy or at www.quiltypleasuresplus.com. You can also find me on Facebook and Goodreads.